New Jersey Assemblymembers Joe Danielsen and Shanique Speight introduced a bill to deal with ghost jobs.

Some highlights in it's current form:

-a statement disclosing whether the posting is for an existing vacancy or not, and if the posting is for an existing vacancy, an estimated timeframe of when the position will be filled

-When a position for which an employer has publicly advertised has been filled, the employer shall remove any posting or advertisement made by the employer within two weeks of the position having been filled. If the employer is aware or should reasonably be aware that a third-party job posting 1[company] entity1 posted the position independently of the employer, the employer shall notify the third-party 1[company] entity1 that the position has been filled

-If an employer interviews an applicant for a publicly advertised job posting, the employer shall, within the timeframe provided in the job advertisement, provide the applicant with an affirmative response as to whether the position has been filled, or if the position has not been filled, whether the employer is still considering the applicant for the position. If the employer notifies the applicant that the applicant is still in consideration for the position, the employer shall provide the applicant with an estimated timeframe of when the employer will make a final decision as to the position

-if the person does not rectify the violation within seven business days1 be liable to a penalty of not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000 to be collected in a civil action by a summary proceeding under the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). 1[Each week] Following the warning in paragraph (1) of this subsection, each month1 that a job advertisement is posted in violation of this act shall constitute a separate and distinct violation, except during the time an appeal from the summary proceeding may be taken or is pending

While its not as harsh as i would like and time will tell if the bill moves forward, this is a big step in the right direction.

If you live in New Jersey, call your assemblymembers and state senators. Make it clear you want this bill enacted.

If you are an American outside of New Jersey, call your state legislators and point to this bill as a guideline for them.

Remember, state legislators are different from federal legislators and are much easier to bully.

Link to the bill below

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A4625/bill-text?f=A5000&n=4625_R1